Defense Business Briefing -- Feb. 27, 2024

Welcome to today's Defense Business Briefing, your weekly roundup of the latest defense industry news.

This week's top story

Comment period closes for proposed rule to implement Pentagon's CMMC program

The Pentagon's Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification program enters a new stage this week with the end of the public comment period for a massive, proposed rulemaking that sets up parameters to implement the long-awaited initiative.

News & notes

Pentagon presses ahead with CMMC rulemaking deadline after release of 'informational' video

The Defense Department is limiting its engagement plans to an "informational" video for the first rulemaking under the Pentagon's Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification program in advance of the Feb. 26 comment deadline, according to a Federal Register notice published last week.

INDUS-X summit announces winners and launches new challenges

The second India-U.S. Defense Acceleration Ecosystem (INDUS-X) Summit has announced the winners of the first set of INDUS-X joint challenges, launched new challenges, and discussed bolstering defense supply chain initiatives through new consortiums and co-producing military capabilities.

DOD seeks solutions for quicker microelectronics prototypes

A Defense Department contractor focused on microelectronics acquisition has released a request for solutions seeking state-of-the-art microelectronics prototype devices from industry to convert into military systems.

Xwing eyes exercises in Indo-Pacific to demonstrate autonomous capability

After receiving approval to perform critical cargo missions for the Air Force, autonomous aircraft operator Xwing said their "phones started ringing" from other "partners in the military" interested in working with the company, including Pacific Air Forces.

What's happening

The week ahead

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is scheduled to testify before the House Armed Services Committee this week to discuss his unannounced medical absence, while senior defense officials are slated to speak at a variety of other public events.

For Inside Defense subscribers

Air Force wants to send whole units into combat, not just individual airmen

DENVER -- The Air Force is changing the way it presents units to the Defense Department's 11 combatant commands as part of a massive structural overhaul announced earlier this month at the Air and Space Forces Association's Warfare Symposium.

Marine Corps passes audit, becoming first service branch to do so

The Marine Corps passed its fiscal year 2023 audit, according to senior officials, who today announced they received an "unmodified audit opinion" from an independent public accountant after a two-year review of the service's equipment and its financial and information control systems.